Hypodermic syringe



July 24 195] R. P. scHERER ET AL 2,562,129

HYPODERMIC SYRlNGE Filed Jan. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l :inventor aldil?) fila .fc/irte: f

R. P. SCHERER El' AL July 24, 1951 HYPODERMIC SYRINGE `2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1946 /J mulllllJLlLlllllFllllLlllllL Patented July 24, 1951 HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Robert P. Scherer, John vOtto Scherer. and Walter W. Rick, Detroit, Mich.. assignoraby mesne assignments, to R. P. Scherer Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application January 23, 1946, Serial No. 642.900

improvements in hyampule as a hypodermic injection.

Another object is to provide a hypodermic syringe the construction of which is such that the ampule may be coupled with the syringe and the contents of the ampule may be discharged from the syringe as a single injection or in separate measured injections. Preferably the construction of the device is such that the quantity of medicament injected from the ampule may be viewed and measured as discharged.

Another object is to provide a syringe which includes a syringe body or frame portion and a hollow needle assembly portion which needle assembly portion may be quickly detached and separated from the body portion and separately sterilized and then replaced in the body portion for use of the syringe.

A meritorious feature of the syringe is that a plurality of suitable hermetically sealed ampules carrying desired medicament may be provided and individually used therewith as needed. Each ampule includes an open end tubular body closed by a puncturable piston stopper slidable therein. The construction is such that as the ampule is inserted into the body of the syringe the stopper of the ampule is punctured by the hollow piercing needle portion of the syringe to permit the contents of the ampule to be expressed through the hollow needle. The stopper acts as a piston withinthe ampule to expel the contents of the ampule through the hollow needle portion of the syringe as the projection of the ampule into the syringe forces the stopper up into the ampule. K

A meritorious feature of the construction is that as the ampule is projected into the syringe body and the ampule stopper is punctured by the needlel portion of the syringe such stopper is gripped and held not only to permit the ampule to be advanced over the stopper to expel the contents of the ampule but also to permit the ampule to be withdrawn relative to the stopper to withdraw a small amount of blood from the person to receive the hypodermic injection in order that the one giving the injection may be able to determine that the hyopdermic injection needle itself is being properly inserted into a vein of the patient.

Preferably this stopper gripping means is in 14 Claims. (C1. 128-215) the form 'of a spring clutch adapted to enter the open end of the ampule and to be held thereby to grip the stopper during the advance of the ampule tube over the stopper. Preferably this spring clutch structure is associated with the stopper piercing needle of the needle assembly which assembly is releasably received within the syringe body and which assembly also supports the conventional hypodermic needle used in making the injection.

A further object is to provide a construction of the character set forth wherein the open end of the syringe body into which the ampule is inserted is so formed as to facilitate insertion of the ampule thereinto. 1

The ampule itself is preferably formed of transparent material and the syringe is so constructed that when the ampule stopper is punctured the interior of the ampule adjacent to the stopper and the stopper are visible through the ampule wall to the user of the device.

A further meritorious feature of thev construction is, that the ampule and the cooperatingA stopper gripping mechanism which grips the stopper to permit advance or withdrawal of the ampule body over the stopper are so constructed, that when the ampule is withdrawn over the stopper it will not be inadvertently completely withdrawn. Complete withdrawal requires the exertion of additional pressure to that required to reciprocate the ampule over the stopper.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of this invention will more fully appear from the following specication, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through our improved syringe.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation of the syringe shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the needle tube and claw assembly portion.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the needle tube and claw assembly portion showing the parts separated each from the other.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the syriw-gff, body.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section through the ampule.

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section of the syringe and ampule assembly.

Figure 10 is a sectional fragmentary view of the ampule stopper and necdle immediately following puncturing of the stopper by the `needle.

Figure 11 is a sectional fragmentary view of the ampule stopper and needle following puncturing of the stopper by the needle and showing the claw mechanism moving into engagement with the stopper.

Figure 12 is a sectional fragmentary view of the ampule stopper and needle following puncturing of the stopper by the needle and showing the claw mechanism pinching the stopper about the needle and engaged within the ampule.

Figure 13 shows the stopper piercing end of the needle as modified from the structure of Figure 6.

This particular hypodermlc syringe is of that type wherein the injection dosage is carried within a sealed tubular ampule which cooperates with the syringe mechanism to perform the hypodermic injection. The tubular ampule is indicated as 20. It may be formed of suitable transparent plastic material. The ample body/is open at one end and there is disposed within the ampule a piston stopper adapted to close the open end of the ampule. This stopper may be formed of suitable resilient puncturable material such as rubber.

The piston stopper has a hollow piston body portion 22 at one end and a head portion 24 at the opposite end. The head portion is connected with the piston body portion by a neck portion 26. 'Ihe head and neck portions are readily puncturable into the hollow interior of the body portion of the stopper. The piston body 22 of the stopper forms a snug yet slidable t within the ampule tube and the stopper normally seals the contents within the ampule against leakage or contamination. The head 24 of the stopper has a diameter less than that of the piston body portion 22 as shown in Figures 9 through 12. The open end of the ampule is provided as shown in Figures 10, 11 and l2 with an inturned flange or shoulder 28 and the outer end is inwardly beveled for a purpose hereinafter described. On Figure 9 the open end of the ampule is provided interiorly with an encircling groove 29 having a radial shoulder at the outer end and fading out inwardly and designed for the same purpose as the 4ledge 28 shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

The syringe body 30 is bifurcated. This bifurcated body terminates at one end in a juncture of the two branches in a relatively narrow ring or sleeve 32 provided with radially projecting handles 34. The opening or bore through the ring is of a size to receive an ampule. This handle grip therebetween a part of the needle tube.

The syringe body is adapted to removably receive and support a needle and claw assembly which is illustrated in assembled form in Figures 1, and 9 and illustrated as disassembled in Figure 6. This needle and claw assembly comprises a hollow needle tube 38 provided at one end with `a piercing needle end portion 40 and provided at the opposite end with a part having a nose 42 adapted to support a hypodermic needle 44 as shown in Figure 9. The nose 42 is adapted to detachably receive the socket of the hypodermic needle 44 as shown.

Intermediate the nose 42 and the opposite end of this needle holder part, the part is cut away as shown at 46 in Figure 6 forming a flatted portion receivable between the two jaws 36 of the body for support thereby. The end of this needle holder part opposite the nose 42 is cylindrical to receive and support the sleeve 48 of the claw mechanism which exhibits a plurality of spring claws 50. These spring claws terminate in end portions shaped as shown in Figures 9 through 12 to grip over the head 24 of the stopper and pinch the neck of the stopper about the needle as shown in Figure 12. Four of these spring claws are here shown. As shown in Figures 4 and 5 they are normally expanded against the sleeve of the body.

When the needle tube and claw parts shown in Figure 6 are assembled they constitute an assembly which can be readily inserted in place between the jaws 36 of the spring fingers of the syringe body 3U. The opposite edges of the two cut away linear portions 46 of the needle holder shown in Figure 6 are grippingly engaged by the flat faces of the two jaws 36 of the syringe body to hold this needle assembly in place. That portion of the needle tube 38 which is received Within the needle holder shown in Figure 6 seats between the arcuate channel grooved faces of the jaws 36 as shown in Figure 4. The spring tension of these fingers is such as to hold the needle assembly'securely in position and it may be inserted in place or snapped out side ways without diliculty. This needle assembly may therefore be readily removed for sterilization and then reinserted in place in the syringe body for use.

It will be noted thatl the piercing needle end 40 is positioned substantially axially of the ring 32 of the syringe body when the piston and needle assembly is mounted within the body and that the spring clutch claws 50 terminate adjacent to this piercing end of the needle. The nose 42 of the needle holder abuts the ends of the jaws 36 and projects outwardly therebeyond as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 13 shows the stopper piercing end of the needle as shaped so that the imperforate side of the point forms an angle with the axis similar to that formed by the apertured side of the point so that the point of the needle will not tend to travel 01T to one side as the needle is pushed through the stopper and as is the tendency with the needles shown in Figures l0 through 12.

When it is desired to use the syringe for an injection the stopper end of an ampule is inserted into the ampule opening in the handle end of the syringe body. Upon continuation of projection of the ampule thereinto it is relatively easy to puncture the end portion of the stopper so that the hollow piercing needle enters the interior of the ampule. As the piercing needle punctures the head and neck of the stopper as shown in Figure 10 the spring claws 50 pass over the head 24 of the stopper as shown in Figure 10. The inturned beveled ends of the spring claws engage the beveled end of the opening into the ampule and slide inwardly thereover and pinch the neck of the stopper as shown in Figure 11. As the beveled spring claws continue to slide inwardly they grip the neck of the stopper more tightly and eventually enter into the end of the ampule. The neck of the stopper is pinched about the needle by the ends of claws 50 preventing .any

leakage about the needle. continuation nf advance of the ampule into the syringe body urges the stopper as a piston into the ampule and the contents of the ampule are forced out through the hollow needle 38 and through the hypodermic needle M as an injection.

'I'he gripping engagement oi' the claws 50 about the head of the stopper is such that it is possible to withdraw the ampule rearwardly over the stopper, the stopper being held by the spring claws, creating a suction or aspirating stroke so that the person administering the injection may withdraw alittle blood from the patient to determine whether the hypodermic needle is entering a vein as desired. This is desirable in the administering of hypodermic injections.

The claws are shown as exhibiting outer radial shoulders l adapted to engagethe shoulder 28 of the ampule or to engage in the groove 28 of the ampule shown in Figure 9. The inturned shoulder 28 at the open end of the ampule, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, prevents the stopper from being accidentally withdrawn from the ampule body upon withdrawal of the ampule rearwardly relative to the stopper. Because o1' this inturned shoulder 28 more effort is required to withdraw the stopper from the ampule than to move thel 'stopper within the ampule. In Figure 9, as hereinabove set forth, the ampule is provided with a groove 29 which has a radial shoulder at its outer end which will serve the same purpose as the ledge 28 of engaging with the shoulders 5I of the spring claws.

As the contents of the ampule are forced therefrom due to the projection of the ampule into the syringe it is possible to determine the amount of dosage being injected for the end of the ampule travels over the graduated finger 52 of one of the spring claws as shown in Figure 9. The entire contents of the ampule may be discharged as a single injection or successive increments may be injected at intervals.

What we claim is:

1. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a syringe body having a ring shaped end portion dening a ring shaped ampule receiving opening and provided with a pair of spaced iingers extending parallel to the axis of the ring, a needle and clutch assembly including a hollow piercing needle and clutch means associated therewith adapted to grip an ampule stopper pierced by the needle, said assembly releasably held between said iingers with the piercing end of the needle disposed in alignment with the ampule receiving opening of the body to pierce the stopper of said ampule and with the clutch means disposed to grip said Stopper.

2. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a syringe body having an ampule receiving bore and provided with a pair of spring lingers extending parallel to the axis of the bore, said iingers provided with opposed complementary gripping jaws at their outer ends, a tubular needle assembly provided at one end with a piercing needle and having its opposite end adapted to be detachably coupled with a hypodermic needle, said assembly having a portion adapted to be gripped between said jaws to hold the assembly to position the piercing needle in alignment with the bore.

3. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a syringe body having an ampule receiving bore opening through a handle portion at one end of the body deiining a concave entrance into the bore, said body provided with a 6 pair of lingers extending parallel to the axis o! the bore. said fingers having complementary gripping jaws at their outer ends, a tubular needle assembly provided at one end with a piercing needle and provided at the opposite end with a head portion adapted to detachably receive a hypodermic needle, said assembly having a portion adjacent to said head adapted to be releasably gripped between the jaws of said fingers to hold the assembly with the piercing needle disposed in alignment with the bore and with the head projecting beyond said jaws.

4. A hypodermic syringe comprising, in combination, a syringe body open at one end to telescopically receive an ample, a tubular needle extending lengthwise through the body and having a piercing end disposed within the body in alignment with the ampule receiving opening to puncture the stopper of an ampule inserted into said opening, and clutch means associatedwith said piercing needle adapted to grip the stopper of an ampule punctured by said needle. x

5. A hypodermic syringe having an ampule receiving opening at one end, said syringe having a hollow needle portion providing a liquid passageway terminating at one end, in a piercing needle positioned in line with said ampule receiving opening and terminating at the opposite end in a hypodermic needle, and clutch means associated with said piercing needle to grip that portion of an ampule pierced by said needle.

6. In combination with an open end ampule provided with a puncturable piston stopper inserted therein closing the open end thereof, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having an open end adapted to telescopically receive the ampule, a tubular needle assembly associated with the body provided with a hollow piercing needle aligned with the open end of the body to puncture the stopper of an ampule projected into the open end of the body and means associated with the needle adapted to engage the stopper pierced by the needle and to hold the vsame upon the needle to permit the ampule to be projected or withdrawn relative to the stopper.

'7. In combination with an open end ampule provided with a puncturable piston lstopper inserted therein closing the open end thereof, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having an open end adapted to telescopically receive the ampule, a tubular needle assembly associated with the body provided with a hollow piercing needle within the body aligned with the open end of the body to puncture the stopper of an ampule projected into the open end of the body and means associated with the needle adapted to enter the ampule and be held thereby in engagement with the stopper pierced by the needle to hold the stopper upon the needle to permit the ampule to be projected or withdrawn relative to the stopper and needle.

8. In combination with an open end ampule provided with a puncturable stopper inserted therein closing the open end thereof, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having an ampule receiving opening at one end and having a hollow piercing needle positioned in alignmenty with said opening to puncture the stopper of an ampule inserted into said opening, a hypodermic needle detachably mounted upon the opposite end of the syringe body communicating with thehollow piercing needle and a spring clutch cooperating with the piercing needle and adapted to enter the ampule and grip -,the stopper snugly about the piercing needle`t-o hold the stopper upon the needle to permit the ampule to be projected or withdrawn relative to the stopper and needle.

9. In combination with an open end ampule provided with a punciurable stopper inserted thereinto, said stopper having a piston portion forming a slidable piston fit Within the ampule and having a head portion of reduced diameter., a hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having one end provided with an ampule opening adapted to telescopically receive the ampule, a needle assembly within the body provided with a hollow piercing needle aligned with the ampule opening of the body to puncture the stopper of an ampule projected into the opening and clutch means positioned to enter the ampule and grip the head of the stopper when the stopper is punctured by the needle.

10. In combination with an open end cylindrical ampule having a piston stopper inserted thereinto closing the open end, said stopper having a hollow body portion at one end forming a piston snugly slidably received within the ampule and having a head portion at the opposite end of less diameterV than the body portion and connected therewith by a puncturable section, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body provided with .an ampule receiving opening at one end and a hollow needle portion carried by the body and providing a liquid passageway terminating at one end in a hollow piercing needle aligned with the ampule receiving opening in the body and adapted to pierce the puncturable section of the stopper and clutch means operable to grippingly engage the head of the stopper when its wall portion is punctured by the needle,

11. In combination with an open end cylindrical ampule having a piston stopper inserted thereinto closing the open end, said stopper having a hollow body portion at one end forming a piston snugly slidably received within the ampule and having a head portion at the opposite end of less diameter than the body portion and conneoted therewith by a puncturable wall, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body provided with an ampule receiving opening at one end and a hollow needle portion carried by the body and providing a liquid passageway terminating at one end in a hollow piercing needle aligned with the ample receiving opening in the body and adapted to pierce the puncturable wall of the stopper and spring clutch means adapted to enter into the end of the ampule and be held thereby to grip the head of the stopper when the needle punctures the stopper and the ampule is slidably projected thereover.

12. In combination with an open end ampule having a puncturable stopper inserted thereinto, said stopper having a piston portion forming a slidable t within the ampule and having a head portion of less diameter than the piston portion and connected therewith by a neck portion, a hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having one end provided with an ampule receiving opening adapted to receive the ampule, a needle assembly within the body having a hollow piercing needle aligned with the ampule opening to puncture the stopper of an ampule' inserted through said opening and clutch means associated with the needle disposed to enter the ampule and grip the neck of the stopper about the needle.

13. In combination with an open end ampule provided with a puncturable stopper inserted thereinto, said stopper having a piston portion forming a slidable piston nt within the ampule and having a head portion of reduced diameter, said open end of the ampule having an inturned ilange, a, hypodermic syringe comprising a body portion having one end provided with an ampule opening adapted to telescopically receive the ampule, a needle assembly within the body provided with a hollow piercing needle aligned with the ampule opening of the body to puncture the stopper of an ampule projected into the opening and clutch means positioned to enter the ampule and grip the head of the stopper when the stopper is punctured by the needle, said clutch means having a part adapted to releasably engage the ampule ange to resist withdrawal of the clutch and stopper from the ampule.

14. A hypodermic syringe having an ampule receiving opening at one end, said syringe having a hollow needle portion providing a liquid passageway terminating at one end vin a piercing needle positioned in line with said ampule receiving opening and terminating at the opposite end in a hypodermic needle, said piercing needle being correspondingly tapered on opposite sides of a diametrical plane through its axis and having its inlet aperture positioned to one side and spaced from the piercing end of the needle.

ROBERT P. SCHERER. JOHN OTTO SCHERER. WALTER W. RICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,008,078 Schroeder Nov. 7, 1911 1,749,919 Mierley Mar. 11, 1930 2,016,631 Everett Oct. 8, 1935 2,101,140 Hege Dec. 7, 1937 2,168,437 Buercklin Aug. 8, 1939 2,229,739 Harrington Jan. 28, 1941 2,419,351 Lockhart Oct. 29, 1946 2,457,313 Lockhart Dec. 28, 1948 

